A few days before the start of the Serie A and La Liga season, an Italian-Spanish duel will take place in the European Super Cup: Atalanta Bergamo will face Real Madrid in Warsaw on Wednesday.
For the Italians, who inflicted their only defeat of the season on Bayer Leverkusen with Granit Xhaka in the Europa League final in May (3:0), it will be their first participation in the summit meeting of the European Cup winners. The Spanish Champions League record winners, on the other hand, are almost regulars and will be the clear favorites to win their sixth Super Cup title in the anticipated competitive debut of superstar Kylian Mbappé.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti does not expect his starting eleven to be in top form just a few days before the start of the league, but is confident of victory. "It will be tough as always, because it's the start of the season. But we're going into the game with full confidence and conviction," emphasized Ancelotti.
The opponent from his home country should not be underestimated. "Atalanta have played a fantastic Europa League season and knocked out top teams like Liverpool. We have great respect for this team, but we hope that we will be at our top level."
His opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini underlined the importance of the clash with the 15-time Champions League winners for his team: "We are playing against the most decorated club in the world, against the team that has won the most games worldwide. Playing a final like this for this trophy against such an important club would have been unthinkable until recently. It is without doubt a highlight, perhaps the highlight in Atalanta's history."
The match, which will be officiated by Swiss referee Sandro Schärer, will kick off at 21:00.
